Feather washing machine



Nov. 19,1940.. P TM N 2,222,230

FEATHER WASHING MACHINE Fil ed Aug. 3, 1959 Mag-i 4 All gun- E2}? R 95 J 14 INVENTOR: 5 I k 726M012 MMX,

Patented Nov. 19,1940

' UNITED "sr-Arss PATENT OFFICE 2,222,230 ras'rnaa wssnmo. Mscnmr: Theodor-ell. Knox, Chicago, Ill.

Application August 3, 1939, Serial No. 288,249

3Clalnis.

This invention relates to a feather washing machine, and it consists in the constructions, arrangements and combinations herein described and claimed.

5 It is the principal object of the invention to provide a washing machine in which the feathers undergoing treatment are thoroughly agitated in a cleansing fluid, the machine'having means for collecting sediment or dirt washed from the 1 feathers, as well as means for withdrawing and.

collecting the washed feathers. It is also an object of the invention to provide a novel collecting receptacle for washer feathers in which the receptacle may be removed to deposit the feathers in a dryer.

Additional objects, advantages and features'of invention will be apparent from the followin description considered in coniunction with the accompanying drawing, wherein 20 Figure 1 is a side elevation of a washer, partly in section, constructed in accordance-with my v invention. n

..Figure 2 is a cross section on the line 2-4 of Figure 1.

25 Referring to cylindrical proportions, which obviously. will vary, depending on the capacity of the washer. The drum i0 is supported upon legs II from a floor II. The end walls of the drum il include bearings II in which there is revolubly mounted a shaft ll, upon which a plurality of paddles II are mounted, the paddles being spaced longitudinally along the shaft as clearly shown in Figured.

Figure 1, there is illustrated a gs is securely fixed across the channel ll and extends from one end wall of the drum to the other.

end.

A'water supply line II is shown, from which a pipeline II is extended upwardly adjacentvone end of the drum. The line Ii has a fitting 22 opening upon the channel ll, the latter having a valve 23 for controlling the flow of water into the channel, as will be explained hereinafter. The pipe ii is continued upwardly to a point above 55 the drumfwhere it is connected to a nttlng tl drum III which may be of any desired One end of the shalt II has keyed thereto a opening into the drum, and this fitting will also include a valve 25 for controlling the flow of water into the drum.

An outlet fitting 26 is embodied in the drum, the latter being substantially in the form of a T, having a branch 21 connected to the drum at a point slightly above the channel It and a branch 28 at right angles thereto, the latter having a downwardly opening port 29 controlled by a reciprocating valve 30. The fitting 28 is of substantial size in .order to perinit ready flow of feathers therethrough for discharge into a bin ll.

As shown in Figure l, a sewer line 32 is pro- 'videdbeneath the floor l2, and includes a pair of upright connections 33 and 34. The connec-'15 tion 33 opens directly into the bin SI, and the connection 34 terminates in a valve housing ii for mounting of a plunger valve 36, the latter being manually actuated through an elongated stem 31 extended upwardly adjacent the bin 8 l.

A conduit 38 connected to the channel it adjacent the end thereof and opposite that ofthe water inlet 22 is provided, opening into the valve housing 35 above the valve 38.

Within the bin ill a wire mesh basket 39 is positioned of a size to fit freely therein and preferably includes short legs I for supporting the bottom of the basket above the floor oi the bin to permit ready drainage of water from the basket. 1

In use, the feathers or down to be washed is deposited into the drum through the hopper i1, when the shaft I4 and associated paddles are rotated through rotation of the pulley or sprockct i. from a suitable source of power; not shown. 86

The drum will first have been filled with water through actuation of the valve 25, andrany cleansing compounds desired will also have been mixed with the water in the tank prior to deposit of the feathers. The feathers are agitated for any so desired lengthof time, this depending upon the condition of the feathe and when thoroughly cleansed, the valve 3 is. raised to a point above the branch pipe 21, thereby-allowing water and 'feathers to flow, into the basket I! within the as bin. -During agitation of the feathers the dirt removed will settle into the channel it, and by 'actuating valve 38 to open position, the dirt accumulated therein may be drawn of! into the sewer line #2. The channel it may be flushed W by opening the valve 23 to admit water thereinto.

Obviously, where a rinsing of the feathers is 1 found desirable, as will'be the case in most instances, the valve 38 is opened to permit discharge of the water into the sewer line #2 and fresh W water admitted by way of the valve 25, during which the feathers are being agitated. A final rinse may be effected by closing the valve 36 and allowing clear water to enter the drum.

While I have specifically described the invention, this is by way of illustration only and I consider as my own all such modifications in structure as fairly fall within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim: t

1. In a feather washing machine, a cylindrical drum having a feed hopper, an agitator revolubly mounted in the drum, said drum having a channel extending throughout the length of the drum below the lower periphery thereof, a foraminate partition between the drum and the channel, a T fitting having one branch connected to the drum above the channel, the other branch having a downwardly open port, a valve reciprocable in said otherbranch to open and close the port, a bin beneath said other branch of the T fitting, a mesh basket removably seated in the bin to receive feathers and water discharged from the T fitting, a valved water inlet for the drum, a

valved water inlet for the channel at one end thereof, an outlet for the channel, a sewer line, the outlet or the channel being connected to the sewer line, valve means for controlling flow of liquid from the channel to the sewer line, and a waste pipe connected between the bin and the sewer line.

2. The structure of claim 1, in which the water outlet for the channel is at the end opposite the inlet.

3. In a feather washing machine, a cylindrical drum having a feed hopper, an agitator revolubly mounted in the drum, said drum having a channel in its lower portion extending throughout the length of the drum, a valved outlet for the drum above the channel, a valved waterinlet means for the drum, 9. valved outlet means for the channel at one end thereof, water inlet means opening upon the channel at the end opposite the outlet means, the valved outlet of the drum opening upon a bin, and said bin having a constantly open water discharge.

THEODORE M. KNOX. 

